Rachael Yamagata returns with new music after nearly a decade, releasing her single “Backwards,” the first track off her upcoming album Starlit Alchemy. The album drops October 3 under Jullian Records.
“Backwards” explores transformation and the emotional tension of moving forward while leaving parts of life behind. Yamagata describes it as a bittersweet acceptance of change and the pull of a new path.
Starlit Alchemy marks Yamagata’s fifth studio album and her first since 2016’s Tightrope Walker. Recorded in her home studio in the Catskills, the album captures themes of grief, resilience, and renewal. It is designed as a full experience, with songs flowing seamlessly into each other.
Yamagata, known for her emotionally raw voice and cinematic songwriting, has collaborated with artists like Liz Phair, Ray LaMontagne, and Bright Eyes. With Starlit Alchemy, she steps further into independence, fully self-managed and free from label expectations.
Fans can expect a cinematic sound that blends intimacy with expansive textures. Yamagata describes it as both storm and salve, a soundtrack for shedding the past and embracing rebirth.
